THE EFFECT OF USING THE CLUSTERING TECHNIQUE ON THE EIGHTH YEAR STUDENTS’ WRITING ACHIEVEMENT AT SMPN 2 CLURING BANYUWANGI IN THE 2011/2012 ACADEMIC YEAR
THE EFFECT OF USING THE CLUSTERING TECHNIQUE ON THE
EIGHTH YEAR STUDENTS’ WRITING ACHIEVEMENT AT SMPN 2
CLURING BANYUWANGI IN THE 2011/2012 ACADEMIC YEAR
THESIS
By
Syska Dewi Perdani Putri
NIM 060210401193
ENGLISH EDUCATION PROGRAM
LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
JEMBER UNIVERSITY
2011
i
THESIS
THE EFFECT OF USING THE CLUSTERING TECHNIQUE ON THE
EIGHTH YEAR STUDENTS’ WRITING ACHIEVEMENT AT SMPN 2
CLURING BANYUWANGI
By
Syska Dewi Perdani Putri
NIM 060210401193
Consultants
Consultant I
: Dr. Budi Setyono, M.A.
Consultant II
: Drs. Sugeng Ariyanto, M.A.
ii
APPROVAL OF THE EXAMINATION COMMITTEE
This thesis is approved and accepted by the Examination Committee of The
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Jember University.
Day
: Thursday
Date
: October 27th, 2011
Place : Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
The Examiner Team:
The Chairperson,
The Secretary,
Drs. Bambang Suharjito, M.Ed.
NIP. 19611023 198902 1 001
Drs. Sugeng Ariyanto, M.A.
NIP. 1959 0412 198702 1 001
The members:
1. Dra. Siti Sundari, M. A.
NIP. 19581216 198802 2 001
1. ………………………..
2. Dr. Budi Setyono, M.A.
NIP. 19630717 199002 1 001
2. ………………………..
The Dean,
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
Drs. Imam Muchtar, S.H. M.Hum
NIP. 195407121980031005
iii
DEDICATION
This thesis is honorably dedicated to:
1. My beloved father and mother, Drs. Siswondo and Siti Maemunah;
2. My sister, Rissa Mareta Mega Putri.
iv
MOTTO
I write to understand as much as to be understood.
(Elie Wiesel)*)
*)
Elie Wiesel in Chaffe, John. 1999. Critical Thinking Thoughtful Writing. New York:
Houghton Mifflin Company.
v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Praise to Allah SWT, the most Gracious and the most Merciful, who always
gives me His blessing so I can accomplish this thesis entitled “The Effect of Using
Clustering Technique on the Eighth Year Students’ Writing Achievement at SMPN 2
Cluring Banyuwangi in the 2011/2012 Academic Year”.
In relation to the writing and accomplishing of this thesis, I would like to
express my deepest appreciation and sincere thanks to the following people:
1. The Dean of the Faculty of teacher Training and Education, Jember
University;
2. The Chairperson of the Language and Arts Education Department;
3. The Chairperson of the English Program of the Faculty of Teacher Training
and Education;
4. My consultants, Dr. Budi Setyono, M.A. and Drs. Sugeng Ariyanto, M.A,
who gave me guidance and careful correction in finishing this thesis;
5. The examination committee who had given some suggestions.
6. My academic advisor, Dra. Siti Sundari, M.A.;
7. The Principal of SMPN 2 Cluring Banyuwangi, Drs. Seno, M.Pd who gave
me permission to conduct the research;
8. The English teacher of the eighth year students of SMPN 2 Cluring
Banyuwangi, Sofia Ulfa, S.Pd, who helped me to conduct the research;
9. My beloved Almamater, Jember University.
I believed that this thesis still might have some weaknesses. Therefore, I
really hope that there will be some criticisms and suggestions from the readers to
improve this thesis. Further, I hope that this thesis will be useful for the readers.
Jember, October 2011
The Writer
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE ............................................................................................................. i
CONSULTANTS’ APPROVAL ................................................................... ii
EXAMINERS’ APPROVAL ......................................................................... iii
DEDICATIONS ............................................................................................. iv
MOTTO .......................................................................................................... v
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................... vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................... vii
LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................... x
LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................... xi
SUMMARY .................................................................................................... xiii
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 1
1.1 The Background of the Research ................................... 1
1.2 The Problems of the Research ........................................ 4
1.3 The Objectives of the Research ...................................... 4
1.4 The Operational Definition of Terms ............................ 4
1.4.1 Clustering Technique ............................................... 4
1.4.2 Students’ Writing Achievement ............................... 5
1.5 The Significances of the Research .................................. 5
1.5.1 For the English Teacher ........................................... 5
1.5.2 For the Students ....................................................... 5
1.5.3 For the Other Researchers ........................................ 5
CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE .......................... 6
2.1 The Writing Definitions .................................................. 6
2.1.1 The Aspects of Writing ............................................ 7
a. Content ..................................................................... 7
b. Grammar .................................................................. 8
vii
c. Mechanics ................................................................ 8
d. Organization ............................................................. 10
e. Vocabulary ............................................................... 11
2.2 The Competencies of Writing Stated in Junior
High School ...................................................................... 12
2.3 The Competencies in writing A Recount Text .............. 13
2.4 Assessing the Students’ Writing Competencies ........... 16
2.4.1 The Scoring Criteria of Writing ............................... 17
2.5 Clustering Technique ...................................................... 18
2.5.1 The Definitions of Clustering Technique ................ 18
2.5.2 The Steps of Clustering Technique in Teaching
Writing ..................................................................... 20
2.5.3 The Advantages of Clustering ................................. 24
2.6 Teaching Paragraph Writing through the
Clustering Technique ...................................................... 24
2.7 The Effect of Using Clustering Technique on the
Students’ Writing Achievement ..................................... 26
2.8 Research Hypothesis ....................................................... 27
CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ......................................... 28
3.1 Research Design ...................................................................... 28
3.2 Area Determination Method ................................................. 30
3.3 Population and Samples ......................................................... 31
3.4 Data Collection Method ......................................................... 31
3.4.1 The Validity of the Test.................................................. 32
3.4.2 The Reliability of the Test .............................................. 32
3.5 Data Analysis Method ............................................................ 33
CHAPTER 4. RESEARCH RESULT AND DATA ANALYSIS ............... 35
4.1 Teaching Writing in the Experimental and the Control
Class...................................................................................... 35
viii
4.1.1 First Meeting ................................................................ 36
4.1.2 Second Meeting ........................................................... 36
4.1.2 Third Meeting .............................................................. 37
4.2 The Result of Writing Test for the Experimental and
The Control Class................................................................ 37
4.2.1 The Result of Pretest .................................................... 37
4.2.2 The Result of Posttest .................................................. 38
4.3 The Analysis of the Main Data............................................ 39
4.4 The Hypothesis Verification ................................................ 44
4.5 Discussion .............................................................................. 44
CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS ............................... 45
5.1 Conclusions ........................................................................... 45
5.2 Suggestions ............................................................................ 45
a. The English Teacher......................................................... 45
b. The Students...................................................................... 46
c. The Future Researchers ..................................................... 46
REFERENCES ............................................................................................... 47
APPENDICES ................................................................................................ 50
ix
LIST OF TABLES
Page
2.1 The Scoring Criteria of Writing ................................................................. 16
4.1 Between-Subjects Factors ......................................................................... 34
4.2 Descriptive Statistics .................................................................................. 37
4.3 Levene’s Test of Quality of Error Variances ............................................. 38
4.4 Test of Between-Subjects Effects .............................................................. 39
4.5 Estimated Marginal Means ........................................................................ 41
4.6 Profile Plots ............................................................................................... 42
4.7The Schedule of Research ........................................................................... 53
4.8 The Result of Pretest (Experimental Class by the English Teacher) ......... 84
4.9 The Result of Pretest (Experimental Class by the Researcher) ................. 86
4.10 The Mean Score of Pretest (Experimental Class) .................................... 88
4.11 The Result of Pretest (Control Class by the English Teacher) ................ 90
4.12 The Result of Pretest (Control Class by the Researcher) ......................... 92
4.13 The Mean Score of Pretest (Control Class).............................................. 94
4.14 The Result of Posttest (Experimental Class by the English Teacher) ...... 96
4.15 The Result of Posttest (Experimental Class by the Researcher) .............. 98
4.16 The Mean Score of Posttest (Experimental Class)................................... 100
4.17 The Result of Posttest (Control Class by the English Teacher) ............... 102
4.18 The Result of Posttest (Control Class by the Researcher) ....................... 104
4.19 The Mean Score of Posttest (Control Class) ............................................ 105
x
LIST OF APPENDICES
Page
A. Research Matrix .......................................................................................... 50
B. The Guideline of Instrument ....................................................................... 51
C. The Result of Interview with the English Teacher ...................................... 52
D. The Schedule of Administering the Research ............................................. 53
E. Pretest .......................................................................................................... 54
F. Lesson Plan (First Meeting) ......................................................................... 55
G. Lesson Plan (Second Meeting).................................................................... 65
H. Lesson Plan (Third Meeting) ...................................................................... 71
I. Posttest .......................................................................................................... 77
J. The Procedures of Interpreting Data Using ANCOVA ................................ 79
K. Table 4.8 The Result of Pretest (Experimental Class by the English
Teacher)....................................................................................................... 84
L. Table 4.9 The Result of Pretest (Experimental Class by the Researcher) ... 86
M. Table 4.10 The Mean Score of Pretest (Experimental Class)..................... 88
N. Table 4.11 The Result of Pretest (Control Class by the English Teacher).. 90
O. Table 4.12 The Result of Pretest (Control Class by the Researcher) .......... 92
P. Table 4.13 The Mean Score of Pretest (Control Class) ............................... 94
Q. Table 4.14 The Result of Posttest (Experimental Class by the English
Teacher)....................................................................................................... 96
R. Table 4.15 The Result of Posttest (Experimental Class by the Researcher) 98
S. Table 4.16 The Mean Score of Posttest (Experimental Class) .................... 100
T. Table 4.17The Result of Posttest (Control Class by the English Teacher) . 102
U. Table 4.18 The Result of Posttest (Control Class by the Researcher) ........ 104
V. Table 4.19 The Mean Score of Posttest (Control Class) ............................. 106
W. Output of SPSS........................................................................................... 108
X. The Scoring Criteria of Writing .................................................................. 110
xi
Y. Example of Students’ Writing ..................................................................... 111
Z. Permission Letter for Conducting Research from the Faculty of Teacher
Training and Education of Jember University ..................................................... 135
xii
SUMMARY
The Effect of Using Clustering Technique on the Eighth Year Students’ Writing
Achievement at SMPN 2 Cluring Banyuwangi; Syska Dewi Perdani Putri,
060210401193; 2011: 46 pages; English Education Program, Language and Arts
Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Jember University.
Indonesian students, as EFL learners, often experience problems in English
writing especially the difficulties to generate the ideas. They have to do the
prewriting activity before doing the writing process to make it easier to be done. To
help the students’ problem in generating the ideas, the teacher needs to give a
prewriting technique.
Based on the above reason, the researcher used the clustering technique in
teaching writing to the students. It is one of the prewriting techniques that can help
the students to find the ideas by drawing some words by using balloons and
connecting each word by using lines. By using the clustering technique, the students
can know the relation of each word, so they can generate the ideas easily. The
clustering technique can help the students to solve their problems in generating the
ideas. By using it, the students can find some words related to their writing, so they
can prepare the vocabularies before doing the writing process. The students are asked
to do the prewriting first. They had to find the words related to the topics by using
clustering technique.
This research was conducted to investigate whether or not there was a
significant effect of using clustering technique on the writing achievement of the
eighth year students at SMPN 2 Cluring Banyuwangi. The respondents of this
research were the eighth year students of SMPN 2 Cluring Banyuwangi in the
2011/2012 academic year. The researcher determined the two classes by using lottery.
The total number of the respondent was 78 students, divided into the experimental
group and the control group. The experimental group consisted of 39 students and the
xiii
control group consisted of 39 students. After determining the experimental and
control class, then the researcher gave the same pretest to both classes. After that, the
experimental class was taught writing by using clustering technique as the prewriting
technique, while the control class was taught writing without the clustering technique.
After the students were taught for 3 meetings, they were given the same posttest of
writing.
The primary data of this research were collected from the post test of writing
test. The main data of this research were analyzed by using ANCOVA (Analysis of
Covariance). The result of this research showed that there was a significant effect of
using the clustering technique on the eighth year students’ writing achievement. It
was proven by the value of significant column of ANCOVA by using SPSS, the
result was 0.003. It was lower than 0.05. Based on the explanation above, it could be
concluded that there was a significant effect of using the clustering technique on the
eight year students’ writing achievement at SMPN 2 Cluring Banyuwangi. Based on
the result of this research, it is recommended to the English teacher to use the
clustering technique in teaching writing because it can help the students to generate
the ideas for developing them into a recount paragraph.
xiv
EIGHTH YEAR STUDENTS’ WRITING ACHIEVEMENT AT SMPN 2
CLURING BANYUWANGI IN THE 2011/2012 ACADEMIC YEAR
THESIS
By
Syska Dewi Perdani Putri
NIM 060210401193
ENGLISH EDUCATION PROGRAM
LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
JEMBER UNIVERSITY
2011
i
THESIS
THE EFFECT OF USING THE CLUSTERING TECHNIQUE ON THE
EIGHTH YEAR STUDENTS’ WRITING ACHIEVEMENT AT SMPN 2
CLURING BANYUWANGI
By
Syska Dewi Perdani Putri
NIM 060210401193
Consultants
Consultant I
: Dr. Budi Setyono, M.A.
Consultant II
: Drs. Sugeng Ariyanto, M.A.
ii
APPROVAL OF THE EXAMINATION COMMITTEE
This thesis is approved and accepted by the Examination Committee of The
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Jember University.
Day
: Thursday
Date
: October 27th, 2011
Place : Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
The Examiner Team:
The Chairperson,
The Secretary,
Drs. Bambang Suharjito, M.Ed.
NIP. 19611023 198902 1 001
Drs. Sugeng Ariyanto, M.A.
NIP. 1959 0412 198702 1 001
The members:
1. Dra. Siti Sundari, M. A.
NIP. 19581216 198802 2 001
1. ………………………..
2. Dr. Budi Setyono, M.A.
NIP. 19630717 199002 1 001
2. ………………………..
The Dean,
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
Drs. Imam Muchtar, S.H. M.Hum
NIP. 195407121980031005
iii
DEDICATION
This thesis is honorably dedicated to:
1. My beloved father and mother, Drs. Siswondo and Siti Maemunah;
2. My sister, Rissa Mareta Mega Putri.
iv
MOTTO
I write to understand as much as to be understood.
(Elie Wiesel)*)
*)
Elie Wiesel in Chaffe, John. 1999. Critical Thinking Thoughtful Writing. New York:
Houghton Mifflin Company.
v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Praise to Allah SWT, the most Gracious and the most Merciful, who always
gives me His blessing so I can accomplish this thesis entitled “The Effect of Using
Clustering Technique on the Eighth Year Students’ Writing Achievement at SMPN 2
Cluring Banyuwangi in the 2011/2012 Academic Year”.
In relation to the writing and accomplishing of this thesis, I would like to
express my deepest appreciation and sincere thanks to the following people:
1. The Dean of the Faculty of teacher Training and Education, Jember
University;
2. The Chairperson of the Language and Arts Education Department;
3. The Chairperson of the English Program of the Faculty of Teacher Training
and Education;
4. My consultants, Dr. Budi Setyono, M.A. and Drs. Sugeng Ariyanto, M.A,
who gave me guidance and careful correction in finishing this thesis;
5. The examination committee who had given some suggestions.
6. My academic advisor, Dra. Siti Sundari, M.A.;
7. The Principal of SMPN 2 Cluring Banyuwangi, Drs. Seno, M.Pd who gave
me permission to conduct the research;
8. The English teacher of the eighth year students of SMPN 2 Cluring
Banyuwangi, Sofia Ulfa, S.Pd, who helped me to conduct the research;
9. My beloved Almamater, Jember University.
I believed that this thesis still might have some weaknesses. Therefore, I
really hope that there will be some criticisms and suggestions from the readers to
improve this thesis. Further, I hope that this thesis will be useful for the readers.
Jember, October 2011
The Writer
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE ............................................................................................................. i
CONSULTANTS’ APPROVAL ................................................................... ii
EXAMINERS’ APPROVAL ......................................................................... iii
DEDICATIONS ............................................................................................. iv
MOTTO .......................................................................................................... v
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................... vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................... vii
LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................... x
LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................... xi
SUMMARY .................................................................................................... xiii
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 1
1.1 The Background of the Research ................................... 1
1.2 The Problems of the Research ........................................ 4
1.3 The Objectives of the Research ...................................... 4
1.4 The Operational Definition of Terms ............................ 4
1.4.1 Clustering Technique ............................................... 4
1.4.2 Students’ Writing Achievement ............................... 5
1.5 The Significances of the Research .................................. 5
1.5.1 For the English Teacher ........................................... 5
1.5.2 For the Students ....................................................... 5
1.5.3 For the Other Researchers ........................................ 5
CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE .......................... 6
2.1 The Writing Definitions .................................................. 6
2.1.1 The Aspects of Writing ............................................ 7
a. Content ..................................................................... 7
b. Grammar .................................................................. 8
vii
c. Mechanics ................................................................ 8
d. Organization ............................................................. 10
e. Vocabulary ............................................................... 11
2.2 The Competencies of Writing Stated in Junior
High School ...................................................................... 12
2.3 The Competencies in writing A Recount Text .............. 13
2.4 Assessing the Students’ Writing Competencies ........... 16
2.4.1 The Scoring Criteria of Writing ............................... 17
2.5 Clustering Technique ...................................................... 18
2.5.1 The Definitions of Clustering Technique ................ 18
2.5.2 The Steps of Clustering Technique in Teaching
Writing ..................................................................... 20
2.5.3 The Advantages of Clustering ................................. 24
2.6 Teaching Paragraph Writing through the
Clustering Technique ...................................................... 24
2.7 The Effect of Using Clustering Technique on the
Students’ Writing Achievement ..................................... 26
2.8 Research Hypothesis ....................................................... 27
CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ......................................... 28
3.1 Research Design ...................................................................... 28
3.2 Area Determination Method ................................................. 30
3.3 Population and Samples ......................................................... 31
3.4 Data Collection Method ......................................................... 31
3.4.1 The Validity of the Test.................................................. 32
3.4.2 The Reliability of the Test .............................................. 32
3.5 Data Analysis Method ............................................................ 33
CHAPTER 4. RESEARCH RESULT AND DATA ANALYSIS ............... 35
4.1 Teaching Writing in the Experimental and the Control
Class...................................................................................... 35
viii
4.1.1 First Meeting ................................................................ 36
4.1.2 Second Meeting ........................................................... 36
4.1.2 Third Meeting .............................................................. 37
4.2 The Result of Writing Test for the Experimental and
The Control Class................................................................ 37
4.2.1 The Result of Pretest .................................................... 37
4.2.2 The Result of Posttest .................................................. 38
4.3 The Analysis of the Main Data............................................ 39
4.4 The Hypothesis Verification ................................................ 44
4.5 Discussion .............................................................................. 44
CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS ............................... 45
5.1 Conclusions ........................................................................... 45
5.2 Suggestions ............................................................................ 45
a. The English Teacher......................................................... 45
b. The Students...................................................................... 46
c. The Future Researchers ..................................................... 46
REFERENCES ............................................................................................... 47
APPENDICES ................................................................................................ 50
ix
LIST OF TABLES
Page
2.1 The Scoring Criteria of Writing ................................................................. 16
4.1 Between-Subjects Factors ......................................................................... 34
4.2 Descriptive Statistics .................................................................................. 37
4.3 Levene’s Test of Quality of Error Variances ............................................. 38
4.4 Test of Between-Subjects Effects .............................................................. 39
4.5 Estimated Marginal Means ........................................................................ 41
4.6 Profile Plots ............................................................................................... 42
4.7The Schedule of Research ........................................................................... 53
4.8 The Result of Pretest (Experimental Class by the English Teacher) ......... 84
4.9 The Result of Pretest (Experimental Class by the Researcher) ................. 86
4.10 The Mean Score of Pretest (Experimental Class) .................................... 88
4.11 The Result of Pretest (Control Class by the English Teacher) ................ 90
4.12 The Result of Pretest (Control Class by the Researcher) ......................... 92
4.13 The Mean Score of Pretest (Control Class).............................................. 94
4.14 The Result of Posttest (Experimental Class by the English Teacher) ...... 96
4.15 The Result of Posttest (Experimental Class by the Researcher) .............. 98
4.16 The Mean Score of Posttest (Experimental Class)................................... 100
4.17 The Result of Posttest (Control Class by the English Teacher) ............... 102
4.18 The Result of Posttest (Control Class by the Researcher) ....................... 104
4.19 The Mean Score of Posttest (Control Class) ............................................ 105
x
LIST OF APPENDICES
Page
A. Research Matrix .......................................................................................... 50
B. The Guideline of Instrument ....................................................................... 51
C. The Result of Interview with the English Teacher ...................................... 52
D. The Schedule of Administering the Research ............................................. 53
E. Pretest .......................................................................................................... 54
F. Lesson Plan (First Meeting) ......................................................................... 55
G. Lesson Plan (Second Meeting).................................................................... 65
H. Lesson Plan (Third Meeting) ...................................................................... 71
I. Posttest .......................................................................................................... 77
J. The Procedures of Interpreting Data Using ANCOVA ................................ 79
K. Table 4.8 The Result of Pretest (Experimental Class by the English
Teacher)....................................................................................................... 84
L. Table 4.9 The Result of Pretest (Experimental Class by the Researcher) ... 86
M. Table 4.10 The Mean Score of Pretest (Experimental Class)..................... 88
N. Table 4.11 The Result of Pretest (Control Class by the English Teacher).. 90
O. Table 4.12 The Result of Pretest (Control Class by the Researcher) .......... 92
P. Table 4.13 The Mean Score of Pretest (Control Class) ............................... 94
Q. Table 4.14 The Result of Posttest (Experimental Class by the English
Teacher)....................................................................................................... 96
R. Table 4.15 The Result of Posttest (Experimental Class by the Researcher) 98
S. Table 4.16 The Mean Score of Posttest (Experimental Class) .................... 100
T. Table 4.17The Result of Posttest (Control Class by the English Teacher) . 102
U. Table 4.18 The Result of Posttest (Control Class by the Researcher) ........ 104
V. Table 4.19 The Mean Score of Posttest (Control Class) ............................. 106
W. Output of SPSS........................................................................................... 108
X. The Scoring Criteria of Writing .................................................................. 110
xi
Y. Example of Students’ Writing ..................................................................... 111
Z. Permission Letter for Conducting Research from the Faculty of Teacher
Training and Education of Jember University ..................................................... 135
xii
SUMMARY
The Effect of Using Clustering Technique on the Eighth Year Students’ Writing
Achievement at SMPN 2 Cluring Banyuwangi; Syska Dewi Perdani Putri,
060210401193; 2011: 46 pages; English Education Program, Language and Arts
Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Jember University.
Indonesian students, as EFL learners, often experience problems in English
writing especially the difficulties to generate the ideas. They have to do the
prewriting activity before doing the writing process to make it easier to be done. To
help the students’ problem in generating the ideas, the teacher needs to give a
prewriting technique.
Based on the above reason, the researcher used the clustering technique in
teaching writing to the students. It is one of the prewriting techniques that can help
the students to find the ideas by drawing some words by using balloons and
connecting each word by using lines. By using the clustering technique, the students
can know the relation of each word, so they can generate the ideas easily. The
clustering technique can help the students to solve their problems in generating the
ideas. By using it, the students can find some words related to their writing, so they
can prepare the vocabularies before doing the writing process. The students are asked
to do the prewriting first. They had to find the words related to the topics by using
clustering technique.
This research was conducted to investigate whether or not there was a
significant effect of using clustering technique on the writing achievement of the
eighth year students at SMPN 2 Cluring Banyuwangi. The respondents of this
research were the eighth year students of SMPN 2 Cluring Banyuwangi in the
2011/2012 academic year. The researcher determined the two classes by using lottery.
The total number of the respondent was 78 students, divided into the experimental
group and the control group. The experimental group consisted of 39 students and the
xiii
control group consisted of 39 students. After determining the experimental and
control class, then the researcher gave the same pretest to both classes. After that, the
experimental class was taught writing by using clustering technique as the prewriting
technique, while the control class was taught writing without the clustering technique.
After the students were taught for 3 meetings, they were given the same posttest of
writing.
The primary data of this research were collected from the post test of writing
test. The main data of this research were analyzed by using ANCOVA (Analysis of
Covariance). The result of this research showed that there was a significant effect of
using the clustering technique on the eighth year students’ writing achievement. It
was proven by the value of significant column of ANCOVA by using SPSS, the
result was 0.003. It was lower than 0.05. Based on the explanation above, it could be
concluded that there was a significant effect of using the clustering technique on the
eight year students’ writing achievement at SMPN 2 Cluring Banyuwangi. Based on
the result of this research, it is recommended to the English teacher to use the
clustering technique in teaching writing because it can help the students to generate
the ideas for developing them into a recount paragraph.
xiv